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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

I have a wonderful story to share. And if you aren't a dog lover or simply stopped by to see a card please scroll down. Otherwise, continue reading.

I received an email recently from a couple who purchased a St. Bernard puppy from us several months back. They took their lovely "little" fellow home and named him Zeus. As we all know St. Bernards can get pretty big... (so big names are a common theme...) Zeus settled in to life on the farm quite nicely. He even had two little friends to play with, a couple of lovable beagles, named Molly and Sadie.

One morning Molly and Sadie were out following the trail of some interesting prey... possibly a wandering rabbit or raccoon... While in hot pursuit of the imagined intruder, Molly wandered out onto a farm pond, frozen over from the cold weather. The weather had been fairly mild up to this point so said pond was not truly frozen over. Poor Molly plummeted into the cold, murky water. Molly is a beagle and as many of you know, Beagles are not known for being long of leg. And try as she might, poor Molly could not make it out of the pond. Molly became frantic as did her buddy Sadie. The noise brought their owners out of the house to see what all the commotion was about.

The couple knew there was nothing they could do to save their beloved beagle. It was clear she was panicking and instead of treading water was getting weaker and weaker. Unbeknownst to them, Zeus had pushed the screen door open and as soon as he heard Sadie's mournful barks and Molly's squeaks he was pond bound. Zeus was always good at minding his owners' commands when given. But try as they might, he would not heed. He hurtled at a barely frozen pond... all 100 pounds of him...

Now here is where the story gets amazing my friends. I know that Saints were bred for rescue. I don't know if instinct kicked in. Or maybe fear for and love of his little friend took over... Zeus jumped in that pond, gingerly grabbed a frozen Molly by the scruff of the neck and swam to shore. He gently deposited her on the bank and then placed his body daintily over hers as if to warm her up. Thankfully Molly, Sadie and Zeus are perfectly fine now! I suspect Zeus received a few extra dog biscuits that week! But that story brings to mind this scripture...

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Such a wonderful example as shown by another one of God's creatures! It was just too wonderful a "tail" to NOT share... Blessings...

Now on to this week's card...

The background is white card stock that I sponged with a light blue ink to resemble clouds. I then placed the black die cut frame (Cheery Lynn Designs) on it to resemble wrought iron. The sunflower is a Spellbinders die and the cute lady bug? A repurposed thumb tack.... Thanks for reading and until next time...

Monday, February 27, 2012

Welcome to another biweekly challenge at Exploring Cricut. Today Diane asked the design team to think "show business." And my mind turned to a favorite Gene Kelly black and white flick, "An American in Paris."

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Happy Saturday All!! I hope you are all having a great weekend!! Today I am popping in to share this week's Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light challenge!!

This Week’s Challenge-

This week the challenge team wants you to think outside the box…. Create any card or project that is not an A2, A6, or A7 rectangular or square card. It can be a different fold (diamond fold, joy fold, easel, accordion, step, sidestep etc.) or a different shape.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, March 2nd at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on or will they qualify for prizes.

While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, we would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, March 2nd at 8 a.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC97. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to our challenge.

Here's my "circular" take on this week's challenge...

I decided to create a circular card. I cut my base with a die cut program and then added a doily die cut by Cheery Lynn Designs. I selected A Beautiful Life paper pad by My Mind's Eye to work with. I cut a slightly smaller circle out of the two coordinating papers and then cut one in half adhering to the bottom layer. I selected Memento's Grape Jelly ink to stamp the sentiment (Our Daily Bread Designs' Grow in Grace. I distressed the entire circle with a distressing tool before added a layer of gold netting on the back. I then placed the entire panel with dimensional foam on the doily base. A touch of white lace disguises the edge where the papers meet. The flower is from Prima and has a touch of greenery from Spellbinders Foliage die peeking out. I also placed a cream pearl swirl underneath for added interest.

For more inspiration for this challenge, please visit my Sister Sticks:

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Welcome to my little corner of blogland! Thanks so much for stopping by! Today, I am working on a challenge project for Mojo Monday. This week's sketch challenge is so cool!

And my interpretation...

I thought the calendar paper and this stamp (Time by Our Daily Bread Designs) would work well together. It seems like time is something I have very little of lately as the demands of everyday life pull me here and yon. But isn't it that way for everyone? So maybe this week I will take a few moments to pour myself a cup of coffee and read a great crafting magazine. Or maybe I will curl up on the sofa with a few decadent pieces of dark chocolate candy. Or maybe I will rush up to my craft studio and work on some projects. Yeah... that's the ticket! Blessings... praying you have a great week...

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

I've kinda been in a pink mood as of late. But nothing I create seems to come out that color... go figure... But today's card is definitely veering toward spring. I even pulled out some old supplies from my stash like Magic Mesh! I think I have had that since my very first scrapbook in 2002! It's practically vintage! LOL...

So here it is...

I have a touch of Magic Mesh behind the scripture panel. But I also placed some gold netting in there too with Scor Tape. The edging dies are some new favs from Cheery Lynn Designs (Queen Anne's Lace)... Love that die! Thanks as always for taking time to visit!

Monday, February 20, 2012

Good morning! Hard to believe Monday is already here! Where did the weekend go? Things are a little busy here at the farm. As I post this I have a lamb in my bathtub. And no, I am NOT kidding... Pray for me folks... It could be a LONG week... lol...

Today's sketch challenge is featured at Card Patterns...

And here's my take...

The base is Bazzill and Colorbok card stock. I then used a DP layer (musical paper) by LilyBeeDesign (Head Over Heels). The coordinating panels of DP are from Crate Paper's Portrait Collection and LilyBeeDesign's Head Over Heels. I also incorporated some ecru lace with a layer of Cheery Lynn Designs Queen Anne's Lace Die (black Card stock). Another CLD die cut flourish, pearls, crochet flower and mulberry rose complete the look! The edges were inked with Ranger Distress Ink (Black Soot) after using a Tonic Distressing Tool to "rough" it up! Thanks for visiting and until next time...

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Happy Sunday to ya! I'm so excited to be popping in and sharing this card. This rainbow idea has been rolling around in my head since I saw a feature in a recent card making magazine. But somehow I just could not get it right! Yesterday I popped in at SplitCoast Stampers and found a challenge... specifically a bountiful borders challenge. Immediately, I knew what to do! Create a rainbow using a Martha Stewart Crafts Punch! Thanks for reading and until next time... blessings...

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Hope you and yours are having a wonderful day! If you would like to take a look at this week's Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light challenge check here.

I'm popping in with a second post today to share a card based on the recent Mojo Monday sketch...

I found a fun rose embellishment recently on a trip to Michaels. And this sketch proved to be just the inspiration I needed.

The Labels One Die cut was embossed with a Sizzix folder. All edges were heavily distressed and inked. I nestled the rose on a kraft circle die cut and added some die cut leaves for interest. The sentiment is part of a sentiment from ODBD's The Sea. I covered the parts of the sentiment I did not want to stamp with scotch tape, inked it up and then carefully removed the tape. I then stamped just the words God's Mercy. Love the scotch tape technique! Thanks for stopping in and pray you have a wonderful Sabbath! Blessings...

Happy Saturday All!! I hope you are all having a great weekend!! Today I am popping in to share this week's Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light challenge!!

This Week’s Challenge-

The challenge team would like to see you use or create a scene on your card. The scene does not have to be a stamp, it could also be on your designer paper.To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, February 24th at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on or will they qualify for prizes.

While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, we would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, February 24th at 8 a.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC97. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to our challenge.

Here's my take on this week's challenge...

I decided to use a mask to create my scene. I first stamped The Mighty Sea Image. I then stamped a mask of the same image taking care to cut it out and place it. I then stamped the Light of the World lighthouse. Some coloring with Copics and sponging with Memento inks added just the perfect measure of color. The base panel is black card stock with DP by Bo Bunny cut and placed along with an embossed panel in the lower corner. A piece of jute adds a rustic touch!

For more inspiration for this challenge, please visit my Sister Sticks:

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Welcome to Our Daily Bread Design's Alumni Team's bi-monthly For the Love of Blog Hop. This week the Alumni team along with some of the ODBD designers are featuring a hop for the Love ofODBD Border & Frame Collections! Check out each link and leave a comment. If you get lost along the way, go to the ODBD Blog for the full link list. One of the posts is a hot spot and a name will be drawn from that list of comments to win a $15 ODBD store gift certificate. So, all you have to do is hop along and see all the creations and leave a little love! You have until February 29th at 6 pm. The winner will be announced March 1st! So, get hopping and enjoy all the inspiration using for the Love of ODBD Scripture Collections.

If you got here from the wonderful Deb's blogyou are in the right spot! If not, head over to the ODBD blog for a full link list.

This time I did a little more inking around the edges and added some lovely dies to draw the eye to the sentiment panel. I stamped the sentiment and framed it with black card stock for a little added pop!

Now next on the hop is Connie. She has a wonderful project to share! Blessings and thanks for hopping along with us! Blessings!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you carve a little time out today to spend with your loved ones! Today, I am sharing a card created with the recent Our Daily Bread Designs release, The Sea. Even though it is Valentine's Day you won't find any red or pink on this card! Instead, I pulled out one of my favorite colors... BLUE!

I embossed my card base with a Provocraft folder, Mary Ann. I also had a chance to use one of my new Cheery Lynn Designs' die, Swedish Spring Oval Frame! I won a mini shopping spree a few weeks back by participating in one of their challenges. I selected a couple of new dies as my prize. Come back later this week and I will be using one of their new border dies!

This week promises to be a busy one. Stay tuned Thursday for Our Daily Bread Designs Alumni Love of Hop. Friday come back to visit and see what my project for Exploring Cricut will be. And then Saturday I will have a project for Our Daily Bread's Shining the Light Challenge! It promises to be one fun filled week! And if I work REALLY hard I might find a Mojo entry or two as well! Thanks for visiting and until next time... blessings...

Monday, February 13, 2012

Welcome to another bi-weekly challenge at Exploring Cricut! This week we are thinking sweets!

Your project can include anything using, candies, sweets, love, hearts, etc. AND you are not limited to Valentines! Just make sure you have Cricut cuts. For complete deets on challenge rules click on the above Exploring Cricut link!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Happy Sunday to you! I'm popping in to share my card for the weekly sketch challenge at Mojo Monday. I also took the opportunity to play along with Stampin' Sisters in Christ. They are looking for cards that will make them smile! With Valentine's Day almost here and the sun shining in Kentucky, my thoughts have turned to spring! My poor daffodils are peeking out! With the snow we had over the weekend, I feel certain they want to pop back underground! I love the wonder of spring! Each year it feels like a breath of promise to come... of not only warmer but longer days... lightning bugs twinkling in the summer night and days spent visiting outdoors with family and friends... What a wonderful gift it is! The power of Easter and what it symbolizes... the resurrection of our Lord and Savior... His defeat of death and the grave! Spring is a promise. A promise that life can begin anew if we just have faith! Blessings...

Today's card...

And the Mojo Sketch...

Thanks for stopping in and don't forget to visit tomorrow as I will be sharing my bi-weekly post for Exploring Cricut! We have another fun project for you!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Happy Saturday All!! I hope you are all having a great weekend!! Today I am popping in to share this week's Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light challenge!!

This Week’s Challenge-

This week the challenge team would like to see your creations using three items, materials, or techniques beginning with three different letters in the word “HEART”.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, February 17th at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on or will they qualify for prizes.

While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, we would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, February 17th at 8 a.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC96. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to our challenge.

Now on to my take for the challenge:

So for my card I used hearts and ODBD's Hope stamp set (H), embossing (E) and ribbon and rhinestones (r). The seam binding is custom dyed... a technique I have not used in a while... LOVE IT! Thanks so much for stopping in!

For more inspiration for this challenge, please visit my Sister Sticks:

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

Thank you so much for taking a few moments to stop by and visit! The last few weeks, you may have noticed a few less posts than normal. My dear sister in law passed away a little over a week ago after a battle with a form of fibrosis. But there are signs of life on the farm as well. We are in the midst of lambing. New life has come and unfortunately some have gone. So as it is with the sea... the tide rolls in and then goes back out. For everything there is a season... and thankfully He makes everything beautiful in His time... Blessings...

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Happy Sunday! Hope you and yours are having a wonderful Sabbath! I'm feeling a tab bit shabby chic! And with this week's Mojo Monday sketch in one hand and the lovely inspiration photo from The Shabby Tea Room, I went right to work. I love working with sketches and this week's Mojo Sketch did not disappoint.

And here is the lovely inspiration photo from The Shabby Tea Room. Participants were asked to use the colors in this photo along with a postal element.

So here's my take...

So for my card I elected to make an itty bitty envelope out of card stock and add a paper punched heart. My card is actually a scalloped card cut using the Winter Woodland Cricut cartridge as I do not own the larger Spellbinders. I cut a slightly smaller circle and added some vintage looking lace I picked up at Michaels around the edges. A pretty red bow, die cut flourish from Cheery Lynn Designs and a Prima Rose add to the shabby feel. The lovely paper die cut is from K & Company's Valentine Sweetheart Paper Pad. So easy to just punch out and go!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Since it is February and we are acknowledging national hero’s (President’s Day) or people who are special to us (Valentine’s Day) in the U.S. , the challenge team is challenging you to acknowledge and case a crafter you admire or a creation you admire changing just two elements to make it our own.

To make the challenge even more fun, we will be giving out a prize, a $15 gift certificate to be used toward stamps at the Our Daily Bread Designs store!! Entries for the prize must be submitted by Friday, February 10th at 8 a.m. EST. One random winner will be chosen and announced next Saturday. If you are not using ODBD stamps, please do not enter more than once. Additional entries without using ODBD stamps will not be commented on or will they qualify for prizes.

While it is not required to use Our Daily Bread Designs images and sentiments on your creations, we would love to see them if you have them. As a way of recognizing those who do use Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we will again be choosing 1 to 2 creations to spotlight for our Shining the Light Award. In order to qualify for this award, however, you must use Our Daily Bread stamps and have your submission added to Mr. Linky by Friday, February 10th at 8 a.m. EST. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC95. When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to our challenge.

Now on to my take for the challenge:

One of my favorite crafters is a member of ODBD's design team, Becca Feekan of Amazing Paper Grace. She makes some amazing projects! If you would like to take a look at the card that I selected to CASE click here. I definitely did not do the original justice! My changes? I left out the ribbon and chose to use embossing on my main panel.

This is an extremely simple card. I created a 6 x 6 card base out of black card stock and trimmed a slightly smaller layer of DP. The heart was secured with dimensional foam. The Saint (bronze coat embossed with Provocraft's D'Vine Swirls folder) stands guard. Notice how I placed his front feet with dimensional tape? My Saint has a blackout layer (black card stock), base (white card stock), brindle pattern (bronze card stock) and off white front feet. How fun is that? Thanks for stopping by and until next time... Blessings...

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Welcome to Our Daily Bread Design's Alumni Team's bi-monthly For the Love of Blog Hop. This week the Alumni team along with some of the ODBD designers are featuring a hop for the Love ofODBD Scripture Collections! Check out each link and leave a comment. If you get lost along the way, go to the ODBD Blog for the full link list. One of the posts is a hot spot and a name will be drawn from that list of comments to win a $15 ODBD store gift certificate. So, all you have to do is hop along and see all the creations and leave a little love! You have until February 15th at 6 pm. The winner will be announced February 16th! So, get hopping and enjoy all the inspiration using for the Love of ODBD Scripture Collections.

If you got here from the wonderful Betty's blogyou are in the right spot! If not, head over to the ODBD blog for a full link list.

Today's card has a vintage feel. I paper punched the edge of the base and added a layer of distressed pink card stock followed by a silver embossed panel. The embossing reminds me of those cool tin panels you see on the ceilings in historic buildings. I stamped my sentiment from Scripture Collection 7 on white card stock and cut/embossed it with Spellbinders. I also added a scalloped layer for interest. I dressed up the corner with a large gardenia blossom gently tipped with a pink Copic marker. A few pink mulberry roses, white die cut flourish and some strategically placed punched leaves finish it off! I think this card is perfect for the season of love... don't you?

Now next on the hop is Jan's blog. She has a wonderful project to share! Blessings and thanks for hopping along with us! Blessings!

Pray for our dear Grace

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About Me

Thanks for taking a few moments to visit my blog! First and foremost I am a child of the King. And there are other facets too... wife, stepmother, daughter and guardian of 4 St. Bernards! I hope that you take away something from visiting today and as always I appreciate your feedback! Blessings!

In accordance with FTC16CFR, Part 255, I declare that I currently receive or have received products that I promote and endorse for free or at a discount from the following companies: Our Daily Bread Designs, North Coast Creations, Paper Sweeties and Verve . These companies generously supply me with complimentary products for promotional purposes. My enthusiasm in promoting their products does not stem from the fact that I am compensated by them, but simply because I love their products and feel their product lines and services to be superior in this industry.